Former Mesquite Horn receiver Taylor Gabriel is now a Falcons receiver getting ready to play in the Super Bowl.

Gabriel graduated from Horn in 2009, played at Abilene Christian and was not selected in the 2014 NFL draft. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns and caught 64 passes in two seasons with them. He was cut before the start of this season, however, and then signed with the Falcons.

Things have worked out pretty well for Gabriel, who has often been overlooked during his football career because of his size (5-8). Gabriel has 35 receptions this season, averaging 16.5 yards per catch. He has scored six touchdowns.

During Super Bowl media day this week, he talked about his football journey so far. Some highlights:

On what it's like to be playing in a Super Bowl near home:

"Just had a reporter from Dallas-Fort Worth and Mesquite covering high school come out here to report on me. This is a dream come true, man. Just to have this opportunity is a blessing."

On his best team memory from high school football

"After my mom passed, man, I had an 80-yard screen for a touchdown. It was like a few weeks after she passed and I had dedicated that to them. They all prayed for me and they were there through that whole process."

On whether he thought, when he was cut, that he would someday play in the Super Bowl

"I didn't think I'd be going from being cut to playing in the Super Bowl. How many people can make that up? It's like a fairy tale or something."